Diagnosing dementia: mental status testing and beyond

The rising prevalence of dementia in Australia means that general practitioners will have an increasingly important role in the timely and accurate assessment of this condition. Two tools that are commonly used for assessing dementia are the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (Cognitive sub-scale). The utility of these tools is maximised by the inclusion of information from other relevant sources, such as the patient's carers, and from clinical evaluation of the patient. These tests are not as complete as neuropsychological assessments. Referring patients for a more detailed assessment is appropriate when the diagnosis of dementia is in doubt.